Poll: Tight race for Florida governor, but many undecided

In both cases, more than 40 percent of the electorate in the primaries — both of which are closed to party members only — are still undecided. The biggest percentage of such voters is on the Democratic side, at 49 percent, with 43 percent still undecided among Republicans.

In both cases, more than 40 percent of the electorate in the primaries — both of which are closed to party members only — are still undecided. The biggest percentage of such voters is on the Democratic side, at 49 percent, with 43 percent still undecided among Republicans.

Democrats and Republicans are seeing tight races for their party’s nomination for Florida governor, a new poll finds — but huge numbers of voters are still up for grabs.

A Mason-Dixon poll released Tuesday also shows that name recognition for former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, daughter of popular former Gov. Bob Graham, and former U.S. House member and current state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam haven’t helped them that much in their respective races.

“Right now, the only things that are certain about Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial primaries are that the outcomes are far from certain, a lot of money is going to be poured into these two very competitive races and the voters are not fully tuned in,” said Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon.

Graham has a slim lead over former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, 20 to 17 percent, among registered Democratic voters, according to the poll. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is backed by 10 percent and Winter Park businessman Chris King garnered 4 percent. In Central Florida, King performed as well as Gillum and Levine, with 12 percent backing in his home region.

Among Republicans, Putnam leads U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Palm Coast, 27 to 23 percent. State House Speaker Richard Corcoran, not yet a declared candidate, is backed by 7 percent.

More than 40 percent of the electorate in the primaries are still undecided. The biggest percentage of such voters is on the Democratic side, at 49 percent, with 43 percent among Republicans.

“The current results largely reflect name recognition,” Coker said, “and none of the candidates appear to be hampered by high negative ratings from their party voters. [But] it is interesting to note that both front-runners have leads that are smaller than their recognition advantages.”

Graham has an 8-point name recognition margin over Levine but only a 3-point lead, Coker said, well within the margin of error of plus or minus 4.5.

“Graham’s total recognition of 65 percent among Democrats is likely lower than many insiders would expect, but her father’s name has not appeared on the state ballot in 20 years,” Coker said.

Putnam, the only candidate in any party to have already run statewide, had only 63 percent name recognition among Republicans, “as his position in the state Cabinet is low profile,” Coker said. His seven-point name recognition advantage over DeSantis also didn’t translate into more than a 4-point lead.

The poll of 500 registered Democratic and 500 registered Republican voters was conducted between Jan. 29 and Feb. 1.

The group "Conservatives on the RIght Side of Equality" is hosting an event in Orlando Tuesday to stress that "the equal treatment of every American, including LGBT people, is a long-held conservative value."

The group "Conservatives on the RIght Side of Equality" is hosting an event in Orlando Tuesday to stress that "the equal treatment of every American, including LGBT people, is a long-held conservative value."

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A New York congressional candidate said her successful bid to use campaign funds for childcare costs is a game changer in politics.

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